COLMAR, France, July 17, 2009 (AFP) – Norwegian Thor Hushovd insisted the battle for possession of the Tour de France green jersey was just beginning after he went back to the top of the race’s points competition on Friday.

Hushovd, the 2005 winner of the sprinters’ main prize, finished the hilly 200km-long 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar in impressive sixth place at 6min 43sec behind Australian-born teammate Heinrich Haussler.

Thanks to Haussler and Hushovd, who won stage six to Barcelona, Cervelo now have two stage wins on their first participation.

Hushovd’s sixth place finish gave him the 15 points which allowed him to take back the green jersey which has been going back and forth between him and Britain’s Mark Cavendish.

The Isle of Man-born rider, the winner of four stages so far, finished
23:44 down and is now second in the points competition on 200, five shy of Hushovd.

“The fight for the green jersey is set to go on, that’s for sure,” said Hushovd.

While Cavendish has gained more points than Hushovd at the finish line, the Norwegian’s superior climbing has helped boost his points tally in the mountain stages as well.

As Haussler drove unhindered towards victory on Friday, the racing behind him had come to an end as several groups of riders simply rallied to get to the finish.

“It was a difficult day with the cold and the rain but the weather suited me fine and helped me get up the climbs a bit easier.”

Saturday’s 14th stage is from Colmar to Besancon and could, if the expected breakaways do not succeed, end in a bunch sprint.

However with four more climbing stages and an individual time trial up ahead, that will be the last chance for Cavendish, and Hushovd, to battle at the finish line until the final, 21st stage to Paris on July 26.

photo by: CorVos Pro